Did you know Hamilton County Schools (HCS) has an Office of Equity & Advocacy? Yeah, they do. And they’re doing cool stuff. Before we get into the specifics, let’s get on the same page about what educational equity is.
Educational equity means every student receives what they need to help them reach their full potential regardless of race, language, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, physical ability, or any other characteristic of their identity.
As part of their 3-year Educational Equity Plan (EEP), the Equity in Action Symposium was created to better equip educators to be grassroots change-makers for addressing inequities throughout the district. The Equity in Action Symposium is a day of professional development for educators to better understand educational equity, how they can incorporate it in their spaces, and who they can turn to in partnership to make a difference for their schools and students. This year, sessions ranged from restorative practices to cultural competency, social-emotional and academic development, building belonging, nonviolent approaches to communication, student success strategies, facilitating courageous conversations, and drivers for economic inequality.
We didn’t fund the entire symposium. We’re not that boss. But we did play an important role. Our $3,000 went to fund 30+ substitute teachers so that permanent teachers could attend the symposium. Budgeted for only school administrators and leadership, our funding allowed those in the classroom to attend.
Side note: we couldn’t be more proud to be featured as a sponsor on the below recap.
